Fuzhounese Americans
Fuzhounese Americans, also known as Hokchew Americans or Fuzhou Americans or imprecisely Fujianese, are Chinese American people of Fuzhou descent, in particular from the Changle district.[3] Many Chinese restaurant workers in the United States are from Fuzhou.[3][4] There are also a number of undocumented Fuzhounese immigrants in the United States who are smuggled in by groups such as snakeheads.[5][6][7][8]
Fuzhounese Americans helped develop the Chinatown bus lines system, which originated as a means to transport restaurant workers from New York City to various parts of the northeastern United States.[5]
Unlike other Chinese Americans and East Asian American groups, Fuzhounese Americans are almost completely concentrated in the U.S. Northeast. The vast majority live in New York City and on Long Island, but some also live in Middlesex and Morris counties in New Jersey; and in the Boston and Philadelphia metropolitan areas.
Immigration[edit]
After the lifting of emigration restriction in the 1980s, people began leaving the Fuzhou area. Illegal immigration from Fujian province peaked at around 8,000 per month in June 1992.[9] During the second half of 1992, illegal immigration into the US was about 2500 per month. Migrants were mostly men, but in 1992 around 20–30% of them were women and children. These arrivals were mostly unskilled agricultural workers. About 80% of them were from the Changle District of Fuzhou, with smaller numbers from Lianjiang and Minhou counties, and other places.[10]
Businesses[edit]
Restaurants[edit]
Many Chinese restaurant owners and workers are from Fuzhou.[11] Chinatown bus lines originated as a means to transport workers from New York City to various parts of the East Coast, Midwest, and also parts of the southeastern United States. Restaurant owners usually adopted the established American Chinese cuisine, which is somewhat based on Cantonese cuisine, rather than serving Fujian cuisine. These restaurants are usually all-you-can-eat buffets and take-out restaurants.
Through the 1990s, there was a trend of Chinese immigrants, especially of Fujian ancestry,[12] opening Japanese-style restaurants such as sushi restaurants on the East Coast. This has been attributed to overcompetition in the Chinese-style cuisine sector, and because of the higher price point at which the American public pays for Japanese-style cuisine.[13] In such establishments, there has emerged a tendency for the managers to be non-Fuzhounese, but the majority of the other staff to be Fuzhounese. This reflects a control strategy to balance two situations: the obligation to involve family in the operation of the business, and the prevention of collusion between the manager and the staff against the owner.[12]
Demographics[edit]
Political views[edit]
Compared to previous Chinese immigrants, Fuzhounese Americans tend to have a more favorable view of the People's Republic of China.[21]: 252
While the majority of the Fuzhou population in the US came directly from Fuzhou, some Fuzhounese Americans have also descended from Matsu, Fukien Province, R.O.C. and the Hokchiu (Foochowese) diaspora in Southeast Asia, particularly Malaysia and Singapore.
"Left behind" children[edit]
Some Fuzhounese people give birth to children in the US, then send their young children back to their hometowns because they are unable to raise them and work at the same time.[24] Because of jus soli laws these children automatically gain American citizenship. These children are called "left-behind Americans" and are usually cared for by grandparents.[25] They are reunited with their parents in the US once they have reached the age to attend grade school.